OK, I know it's been a while. I haven't even touched this story in months then the other night, I wrote four pages. Go figure. Anyway, this chapter is heavy in dialogue, but I hope all will enjoy this chapter. Take care and as always, be kind and drop a line.
Chapter Eighteen
Sunrise came and went without Kenshin realizing it. The only thing that roused him was the chiming of his doorbell. He rubbed his eyes and made his way to the front door to find me, his lover and coworker, standing there. And trust me, I was more agitated than the day before.
"Are you trying to give this case to DeMakey?" I spat, forcing my way inside.
"Kaoru, what time is it?' He replied with a yawn.
I put down my briefcase and folded my arms into my crisp navy suit. What time was it, he asked. I should have knocked him from there to the courthouse, but instead, I drew in a deep breath, extended my arm and pointed to the small, white Movado on my wrist. Kenshin's dark eyes grew wide as milk saucers and he dashed to the back of the house.
"Damn it, Kaoru, why didn't you call me!" he yelled from the shower in the bathroom in his master bedroom.
"I did call," I leaned against the door, "you didn't answer."
"I must have put it on vibrate."
"No alarm clock?"
"Um, Tomoe usually sets it before bed. But, ummm," Kenshin paused, not wanted to reveal why it clock might not have been set. Cute.
"Look, she's your wife, don't worry about it. Why would she leave for work without waking you up though? That seems a little odd to me."
The door then flew open and a dripping wet Kenshin burst through and entered his walk-in closet. He did make a good habit of picking out his clothes the night before, but he still had to get dressed.
"Now, that, I really don't know," he paused and looked to his wife's side of the closet, puzzled.
"What's the matter," I asked.
"Her work clothes...she didn't put them on," Kenshin whispered, almost to himself.
A look of worry, then hurt came over him and was apparent on his face. She must have left during the night, probably after making love to her. Why would his wife do such a thing, he seemed to ask himself.
"Call her while I drive, we need to get out of here," I said, walking back towards the front.
"Hai," he replied as he grabbed his briefcase, cell phone and keys.
Before I could shut my door, Kenshin had his phone to his ear. I could hear it ringing and ringing on the other end, then click over to voicemail. Tomoe's sad-sweet voice urged the caller to leave a name a number so she could return the call in a timely manner and that plea was followed by a beep. Kenshin sighed and hung up the phone. As I drove like a bat out of hell on the freeway, he sat back, looking dazed.
"Don't think about it," I said, almost mechanically.
"How can I not think about it?" he whined.
"For Christ's Sake, Kenshin, we have a job to do. So what she left in the middle of the night? Didn't you do the same thing? Would you have woken her up if she were sleep?"
"No, but that's because I left the house to sleep with you."
Silence.
Uncomfortable, undeniable, unavoidable silence. The kind of silence where you know something should be said but you are scared to say it and scared to hear what the other person will say in return. I exited the freeway and sat at a red light, waiting to turn left. Kenshin and I met gazes, and my chest tightened up. I tried to draw a breath but it felt as if I could not. Why did this bother me so? That's his wife. What she did was not my concern, but it troubled him. Why did I care, I didn't love him? I rolled my eyes at myself and completed my turn as the arrow turned green.
"So, you think Tomoe is sleeping with someone else?" I asked him in an amused tone.
"I don't know," he whispered, almost in tears.
"Get the fuck out of here! She wouldn't," I laughed.
"She would if I pushed her away," he admitted.
"But you haven't, or at least, you shouldn't have."
Once again, there was silence, but this time, it did not trouble me. I had picked a most bothersome lover, it seemed. Silly me. Married men tend to be simple creatures, but Kenshin was more complex than a DNA strand. All of the problems we've had can be traced back to his inability to separate his penis from his emotions. Foolish man, I cursed to myself, pulling into the parking lot of the courthouse. We made a mad dash inside, for we only had five minutes to get ready for court to convene. Our client was sitting in his chair, looking at me and Kenshin like we were eight-legged freaks.
"How dare you two come in here so late! You know how much money I am paying you," O'Nelly yelled at us. Before he could say another word I swooped down on him like the Angel of Death on a dying lamb and pierced him with my bold eyes.
"You raise your voice at me ever again and I will wear your testicles as earbobs," I said through my teeth for only him to hear. The older man, plum-red with anger, slowly seated himself, but kept a hateful eye on me.
How dare that bastard? It was me and Kenshin who were going to save him from certain conviction. Money or no, his ass would be grass without us. I wear the pants in this outfit and if anyone ever forgot it… hell hath no fury.
Kenshin, despite his earlier worry, fought to contain his laughter. I looked at him and he got the message. It was time for business. The only thing that existed was this case and no matter how disgusting out client was, we had a job to do. Besides, flaying DeMakey like a fish would be a joy in itself atop a hefty purse. Before long each player took position and the session was to begin. The prosecution brought on their star witness very early in the game. It seemed they really though this to be an open-and-shut kind of case. Well, it wouldn't with me on the job. Kenshin and I sat through the questioning of O'Nelly's sister-in-law. Taking notes of the emotional, yet obviously rehearsed testimony. I smiled on the inside. You wouldn't think for someone on the "right" side would have to lay it on so thick. I couldn't have set it up more perfectly if I were writing it myself. If Cassandra Rossi only knew what was coming her way in a couple of moments.
"Would the defense wish to cross-examine the witness?" the lady-judge asked.
Kenshin nodded and was about to speak, but I put my hand over his and rose. I would take this one. Besides, I had some pent up anger I needed to release. I volunteered to cross-examine and I approached the young woman. She was extremely attractive, about thirty years of age. Her bright green eyes offset their red surroundings burned by tears. She was wise not to wear any make-up, or it could have been she didn't need any. Her skin was flawless and her red lashes long and reaching. She appeared unassuming and deliciously innocent upon her seat, eyes of sorrow peering at me. Her hair, pulled into a fiery knot, fell slightly from her perspiration.
"Mrs. Rossi, where were you on the night in question at approximately 8:30pm?" I asked.
"I was pulling up to my sister's house. I had to drop off a tape she let me borrow."
"You say your sister's house as if she lived alone," I replied in a sarcastic tone. The woman bit her lip and looked over at my client.
"Well, he lived there, too, but I didn't come over to visit him," the woman said
"Why? Did you not get along with him?" I asked.
DeMakey then stood up and raised her hand to catch the attention of the judge. Object all you like, bitch. I had this one.
"I object, your honor. What relevance does this questioning have?"
"Overruled. I believe it quite obvious what the relevance is. You did go to law school right?"
DeMakey turned red at the judge's sharp rebuke, and I for one, was surprised. It wasn't often she scolded the wench. In fact, she doted upon her. This would truly be interesting.
"Would you please answer the question, Mrs. Rossi?" I continued.
"No. I did not like him. I hated him," she spat.
"Why is that?" I probed
"I never liked him. Not when he and Karin were dating, not when they got engaged and certainly not when they eloped," her voice raised to a screeching tone.
"Eloped?" I quizzed, "You mean, not a proper marriage?"
"Right, they married in Vegas." Rossi explained
"Why would that bother you?" I asked. Cassandra looked at me with a truly perplexed expression. She was waiting for the prosecution lawyer to object, but she did not. Where was this leading? Where was this going? Her pulse quickened as she became more and more anxious. Cassandra shifted in her seat and looked at me with helpless eyes. "Mrs. Rossi?"
"Of course it would bother me! She was my sister. Don't you think I'd care about who she married?" she blurted out.
"Of course, but, why didn't you make mention of this before?" I asked, my tone puzzled.
"Wha...what?" she stuttered.
"Well, in your first interview, you said you didn't like him because he cheated on the deceased after they wed. You made no mention of dislike prior to that event. Why is that?" I asked.
Cassandra froze. Her look said it all…it was like reading her very mind. How did this bitch know? How did this bitch know! No one was supposed to know. Then how was it she knew. Damn it, damn it to hell, was her train of thought and she fought internally with herself. Either lie under oath, or bring and unnecessary shadow of doubt to the case. Damn it!
"I...I was emotionally distraught," she said.
"So much so that you would lie?" I retorted.
"OBJECTION," DeMakey yelled, finally showing a backbone. "She is badgering and leading the witness."
"Sustained. Get to the point soon, Ms. Kamiya."
I turned my back to Rossi and walked away slowly, my pumps the only sound heard in the courtroom aside from the florescent hum of the clock sitting above Her Honor. She wants me to get to the point, eh? Oh, get to the point, I shall. I returned to our table and retrieved a blue folder from the file on top. Rossi's emerald pools were focused on that folder. She knew her doom lied within to two thin pieces of thin cardboard on the white sheets in the middle. I walked back up to the victim's sister, who was no longer crying, face still as a portrait. I placed the file down in front of her and smiled.
"Do you know what is in here, Mrs. Rossi?" I asked her.
"No," she replied curtly.
"Well, of course you wouldn't, I suppose. In here contains emails extracted from the hard drive of your computer," I said. Her expression cracked.
"So?"
"So, the encrypted dates show that you erased these emails the morning after your sister's death. Not only that, the contents of these emails were very telling. You see, Mrs. Rossi, not only did you like Mr. O'Nelly. You were his lover." I revealed
"OBJECTION!" DeMakey yell, her voice shrill.
The courtroom was buzzing with whispers and conversation while Judge Sanchez attempted to regain control of her domain. Rossi had turned pale with fright and embarrassment, but dared not to say a word. She wasn't that stupid. She would have to wait until DeMakey could try to come up with something to counter this blow. Soon the conversation died and the judge eyed the prosecution with odious eyes.
"Would you and Ms. Kamiya approach the bench, please," Sanchez requested.
"Your honor?" I asked, innocently.
"Kamiya, you better have a good explanation of how you got the information," DeMakey threatened. Sanchez nodded her head in agreement.
"The information was open to all parties. Mr. Himura went to headquarters and checked the hard drive. He found information the police did not and logged it, as well as filed it with the court. This information is in file 49E, page 149, line 16. It was DeMakey's job to read the files carefully," I said coolly, as if scolding a stupid child.
DeMakey looked as if she would have breathed fire. She knew I was telling the truth and there was nothing she could do about it. It was not my fault Kenshin was a computer wiz and found this interesting kernel of information. Two heads are better than one and if anyone thought this case was a slam dunk for the prosecution, they were sadly mistaken. How could the jury automatically figure O'Nelly a murderer and his sister-in-laws word the Holy Grail when she was untrustworthy herself? Oh, how does that song go?
The best is yet to come...
"Alright," Sanchez exhaled, closing some files. "You may proceed, Ms. Kamiya."
I could barely contain my laughter. This was my favorite part of trial. The total decimation of character. I turned to Rossi, who was staring at DeMakey, wondering why she was not rescuing her from these deadly waters. Oh, no, bitch. That ass is mine.
"So, Mrs. Rossi," I emphasized, "Per the documentation provided in email, you quite disliked your sister. Is this correct?"
"Yes," she spat.
"Why is that?"
"Kevin belonged to me, then she stole him," she replied, tears freely falling down her face.
"How did she steal him?"
"Well...she slept with him, got knocked up and married him," she said."
"And, you continued a relationship?"
"Yes."
"When did you break things off?"
Cassandra paused, as if to collect herself before she revealed all. Sorry, hun, you weren't surprising anyone here, today. I had all this information, as did DeMakey. Too bad she relied too much on being teacher's pet and not doing her fucking job. Her incompetence will cost her this trial, especially with Kamiya Kaoru on the case.
"Two weeks before my sister was killed," she replied in a soft tone.
"Why?"
Silence.
"Did you hear me, Mrs. Rossi?"
Silence.
"You have to answer, Mrs. Rossi, or I will hold you in contempt," Judge Sanchez threatened.
Silence.
"Bailiff, remove Mrs. Rossi from the courtroom. This court will resume at 1pm," Sanchez ordered, obviously aggravated.
None more so than DeMakey. She gave me that, "You better watch your back, bitch," kinda look. What was she going to do? Murder me? HA! Too bad Rossi kept her stinky mouth shut. More than likely, though, she will have to come back out and finish her testimony. By then, DeMakey would have a bit more time to prepare, but there was nothing she can do to erase the shadow looming around her star witness, who was now being escorted out the courtroon. She was no longer crying, but in a kind of surprised dazed, deer in the headlights deal. Her husband seemed to have known nothing of the affair, for he did not even take a glance at his wife as she was escorted to her holding place.
"Amazing, as usual," Kenshin said as I gathered up my files.
"Well, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you," I replied, smiling.
"Tell me, do you get some sort of satisfaction in destroying the lives of others?"
I froze. His tone was sarcastic, obviously, but that sarcasm was focused at me. His lover. His partner. His friend. Why, exactly, would he question me like that? Was he not a lawyer, too? Did he not have the opportunity to walk away from this job or from me? And he stood before me, asking that sort of loaded question as if I'm supposed to apologize to him, pat him on that back and tell him everything will be honkey dorey and peachy keen? What the hell was this muthafucka smoking?
"No more than watching others destroy their own," I retorted. I guess he won't be asking for hot animal sex in unisex bathroom today. "Get a hold of your wife yet?"
Kenshin shook his head and put his hands in his pockets. I'd never seen him like that before. It was not healthy. First, he wasn't focused on the case. Second, he was thinking too much about the Tomoe thing. Third, he was trying to put the blame all on me, as if I twisted his arm and held a gun to his head. I'm telling you, he was acting moodier than a bitch.
"Want to go look for her?" I asked, trying to be as concerned as possible.
"What the fuck do you care?"
This is when five fingers and a palm met the skin of his cheek and sent him bracing the chair behind him. Lucky for the both of us, the courtroom was fairly empty, and those who were there had their focus on other things. I regretted losing my temper, but I would not tolerate being treated like that. Not by anyone. Not even Kenshin. No one would ever hurt me again. Ever.
"You talk to me like that again, I will slit your throat, pull out your vocal cords and play double dutch with them," I threatened.
"You sure like decorating with body parts, don't you? Balls for earrings, vocal cords for toys, hearts for a doormat..."
The little chicken-shit! Where did he get these cajones from? No. No. No. Forget this. I have to put this man in his place and right now.
"Kenshin, I'm going to say this once and only once. You knew what our relationship was supposed to be before we started. We could be friends. We could be lovers. We could not fall in love. You have a wife. You have a life. I don't want to take you away from her. I gave you an opportunity to walk away before. You didn't. However, I will make the decision for you if you ever speak to me the way you did again. And, that, Mr. Himura Kenshin, you can take to the bank," I said, slamming my briefcase shut and walking away briskly, trying to contain my hurt and anger.
"Are you saying my love is one-sided, Kaoru? Are you saying you do not love me?" he asked, causing me to stop before I reached the doors of the courtroom.
"Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying." I turned and replied.
"Then you are lying to yourself," he said in a regretful tone.
"I am incapable of love, Kenshin. See you at one," I said, walking out the doors.
Whew! Well, how do y'all like them apples? Will Kenshin find Tomoe? Does Kaoru love Kenshin? What did Tomoe and Aoshi do all night long? I promise you won't have to wait another five months to find out. Please, read and review!